Springing arrangement for the wheels of vehicles



M. WAGNER May 51936.

SPRINGING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE WHEELS OF VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 2'7, 1953 Jnwentor M. WAGNER May 5, 1936.

SPRINGING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE WHEELS OF VEHICLES Filed Dec. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 5, 1936 ARRANGEMENT roa run I SPRINGING PATENT "OFFICE WHEELS F VEHICLES Max Wagner, Stuttgart,

Germany, assignor to Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft, Stuttgart- Unterturkheim', a

Germany, a company of Ger- Ylpplication December 2'1, 1933, .Serial No. 704,179

ermany December 14, 1932 27 Claims. (CL 267-20) This invention relates to an arrangement of springing independently sprung wheels, more particularly those of motor vehicles, by means of guiding elements which swing about a longitudinal and a transverse axis, such as links, half axles, leaf springs or the like, and consists substantially in this, that the guiding elements are flexibly connected to the upper part of the chassis, forinstance ,the frame, in such a manner that they can at the same time yield somewhat in a horizontal plane.

Suitably, the elements are made capable of yielding by the guiding elements for instance being journalled by means of a vertical pin on the upper part of the chassis and hearing by means of arms against rubber buffers or the like,

This yielding capability of the guiding elements in a horizontal direction, that is to say more particularly in a direction perpendicular to the planein which the wheels swing, has the advantage thatthe jolts afiecting the wheels in this direction (in the case of transversely swinging axles for instance in the direction of travel and in the case of longitudinally swinging levers or the like in the transverse direction) are absorbed before being transmitted to the body, the vehicle travels more smoothly and the axles and axle parts are more protected. At the same time the wobbling of the front wheels, which in certain circumstances occurs even with independently sprung wheels, may be eliminated. The. provision of a. vertical pivot pin results, among other advantages, in spite of the yielding construction in a satisfactory, secure journalling of the guiding elements and in the advantage. that the rubber buffers, when suitably an'anged; are stressed only in compression or tension.

The invention also relates to. a particularly suitable arrangement of the suspension and springing of the wheels or of the guiding elements. i l Y In the accompanying drawings a constructional example of the invention is illustrated, in which the wheels are connected by two link members swinging in a-transversje plane of the vehicle to the upper, part of the chassis and are guided by the said linkssubstant'ially in the mannerof a parallelogram. Inthese drawings Fig. 1- is a view of this arrangement from the front, r 2

Fig. 2a view from abovejbeing a section on line A-B of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 a section on line C-D of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 a section-through the upper steering swivel joint,

in the usual way.

Fig. 5 is a view of a modification in which the wheel is supported by leaf springs and Fig. 6 is a section through a further modification having vertical cylindrical guiding means for the wheel and a guide member interposed between the wheel carrier and the frame.

a. is a longitudinal frame member, I) a transverse member which connects it with the ow posite longitudinalmember and in the end hearing in of which a vertical pin 0 is rotatably jourm nailed. The" latter is given a T-like shape by an upper cross-piece. c1 and, by a further cross-. piece d which is rigidly fixed to it by means of a cone and cotter acquires the form of an I. The two cross-pieces are constructed so as to form bearings for the two horizontal pins e and j which lie more or less outside the axis of the vertical pin and which'themselves act as pivot pins for the two fork-shaped, substantially triangular link members g and h. The stub axle or wheel carrier 1 is connected by means of the steering swivel pin is with ball and socket joints 2' and a, so that it is guided by the links in a. parallelogram-like manner. As will be seen from Fig. 4, the steering swivel pin is is rotatably iournalled both in the two joints i and a by the upper joint ball in which is screwed to it and a correspending ball which may for instance be integral with the pin and in the steering swivel itself by means of the bearings 102. This freely rotatable 3o mounting both in the ball joints and in the steer- 'ingi swivel has the advantage that should the ball and socket joints become jammed, for instance by the nuts 11 being too much tightened,

or through dirt or the like entering, the steering swivel I will still be capable of turning easily about the bearings k: and thesteering of the wheels will thus not be detrimentally aifected. The wheel is mounted on thesteering swivel l 40 For springing the wheels a helical spring m is provided, the convolutions of which are unguided and which bears at. one end against a. bracket 11 fixed to the longitudinal frame member r a and at the other end against a balland socket joint 9 which is provided on the cross-bar hi. of

| the link hand is adjustable by means of a nut o.

The spring may be rigidly clamped at one end, for instance its upper end, or,at both ends to its sprlng'supports or may simply bear against 5 the latter under the spring pressure. In order to prevent the wheel springing too far and for acting as a safety means in case of the helical spring breaking, a. stop member 1" is provided within the spring on a tubular projection q, 5

- fwhich-stcpl member is in the 'form of a rubberbufi'er and the ball "bearingflsflcrthewheelhasyieldedacertain- The'springispreferabl'y pla'cedin the space-between'the two arms of thelinks; so that the arrangement-is convenient without taking '.up-toomuch'space;"rwoormore springs could of course aisobe provided for eachjwheel. t Furthermore in accordance with the invention the lower-cross-piec d is provided-with arms 'di and dz whichp sflseon either side of-the.trans-' verse member-b of the frame.. arms are 7 connected to-one anotherby' a bolt s, which out underi'compression by washers and nuts, v.

v The manner in which this arrangement op'erf ates is obvious. On jolts in direction occurring, the .stub shaft. is guided in a known manner-in the vertical 'plane by the two links a,

" h, of equal or unequal length,- the or parallelogram-like quadrilateral e'i.--d'- -1 ensuring an approximately .parallel motion of ,the wheel. The-whole link quadrilateral can, however, itself him about the verticaipin c but only-[as far-as the elasticity of the rubber buflersuiwillbermit. On jolts in'the'direction.-

of travel striking thewheel, the link quadrilateral can thus yield elastically in'the direction .of travel, so that protection is" prcvi ded for the -,vehicle in question and,

' pleasanteridriving is secure'd.

In the modification showninjl 'ig. 5, the wheel the wheel carrier in such a-manner that the wheel carrier'can swing relative to the frame to-such an' extent as by the rubber' i 1. In a power-drivenvehicle-a frame, avehicle.

wheeL'a element for for. co'n-.

necting the 'wheel withth'e i'rameyinsuch a smoother and carrier s is supportedby means of superposed I transverse .leaf spring g5 and hs which-are rigidly clamped to the vertical ninics bymeans of two snringhousings es and f5- Rotarvmovement of the pin 05 together with the luansverse springs and-the wheel is'iimitedby means of the arm do buii'er us arranged on the member In oftheframe. a

' .m the modification-shown m mg'ie', me heoi carrier leis mounted'on'a-swivel pin kc so as to be slidable vertically against the'action 'ofthe springs 1m and m'ozt-The swivel itselfis rotatably' mounted or fixed. at its ends in a;

'forked guiding part we which can a verticalrplvot pin on. the movement being limited by'the rubber buflers Iuand u'u.

"I'he wheels may in all driven.

. 1 What I claim is;

Tmanner that the. wheel can move in a vertical plane relative to the frame,.pivotai .means for connecting the mom; element with the-frame insuch a manner that it can turn tical axisacainsttheeiastiemeans.

f 2. In a power-driven vehicle'ia, frame, a

"wheel-,a-guidinselement for the-wheelfor con nectinathe wheel withthe frame in such a man- .ner thatit swing relative to'the frame gather with the element a vertical for the element with m le' e e e:

. lo wo jisainst the elasticity 7. In a power-driven vehicle, a frame, a vehicle 4' f wheel, a wheel-carriers; s mounted o I about-a verti-' cal axis. on:the frame and elastic means for'sups i sclementinsuchamanner that ,it can to a small extentabout the verment can about a. on the fi ame'in the'directi'on oftravel and elastic means forsupp'orting the sui'ding-element in such a manner that'it can'onlyswing'toasmall extent about the verticaiax'is ass-inst the elastic means.

3. In a power-driven vehicle, a frame, a vehicle wheel, a element for wheel for connect-ing the wheel with the frame in such a manner that the wheel can swing in a vertical plane relative to the frame; a. pin for pivotally eoning a 'substantially'verticalaxis insuch amanner that .the guidingelement can turn about the ver-" tical axis of the pin and elastic b'uifers for allow-- ing thefguiding "element a small'rotary movement about the buffers; r

wheel, a guiding element for the wheel for cannecting the wheel with the frame in: sucha mannerthat'themheel can swin'gin a vertical plane a relative to the frame, aipinmolmted substantially" vertically or; the framefor pivotally the v guiding element with theframe in such a'ma'nner that the pin/ together with the guiding element can swingiabout the vertical axis, arms non rotatably connected 'with the' pin. and elastic butters-against which the bear for allow-- ging the'pin to swinrabout itsaxis o'nlyasainst the'eiasticity'of the 4,: 5. Ina power-driven vehicle, a frame,.a-vehicle wheei, a wheel. carrier, a pin mounted on theframe so as'to rotatable about a substantially vertical. axis, two elements connected at one end with the pin andat the other endwith in a vertical plane, arms -non-rotatably connected with thepin, and elastic buiiers against which the armsbearforallowingthenintoswinsabmlh the elasticity ofthe buii'eraf forailowingthe pinto swing about itsaxisonly m ws e V h end ohm: member opposite to the fork with carrier,"elastic' means which allow f 8. In a power-driven-vehicle. a frame, avchielg vertical axis, .two link s'ub-' end with the wheel carrier with horizontal pivotal necting the guidinielement'with the frame hav- 15: pin elasticity I 4. In apower-dl'ivenvehiclc ra some vehicle,

so i

aoaaavo wheel, a wheel canier, a link pin rotatably mounted in the wheel carrier, a pivot pin rotatably mounted on the frame with its axis of rotation substantially perpendicular, elastic means for elastically supporting the pivot pin against rotation about' its axis, an uppelr link member, a lower link member, a joint for each link member for connecting it at one end with the pivot pin so as to be swingable about a horizontal axis and a ball joint for each link member for connecting the other end of the link member with the link pin so as to be capable of swinging in all directions. I

9. In a power-driven vehicle, a frame, 9. vehiclewheel, a guiding element for the wheel for connecting the wheel with the frame in such a manner that the wheel can swing in a vertical plane relative to the frame, a pin for pivotally connecting the guiding element with the frame 20 having a substantially vertical axis, in such a manner-that the guiding element can turn about the vertical axis of the pin, two fork-like arms connected with the pin and elastic buffers arranged between the arms, against which the arms bear from opposite sides.

10. In a power-driven vehicle, a frame, a vehicle wheel, a guiding element for the wheel for connecting the wheel with the frame in such a manner that the wheel can swing in a vertical plane relative to the frame, a pin for pivotally connecting the guiding element with the frame having a substantially vertical axis, in such a manner that the guiding element can turn about the vertical axis of the pin, arms connected with 5\ the pin, elastic buffers and adjustable stops on the arms by means of which the arms bear against the bufiers and by means of which the buffers can be initially tensioned'. r

11. In a power-driven vehicle a frame, a vehicle wheel, a guiding element for the wheel for connecting the wheel with the frame in such a manner that the wheel can swing in a. vertical plane relative to the frame, a pin for pivotally connecting the guiding element with the frame 45 having a substantially vertical axis, -.in such a manner that the guiding element can turn about the vertical axis of the pin, two fork-like arms connected with the pin, elastic buffers arranged between the arms, which bear against the frame, a bolt passing through the buffers on the arms, stops on the bolt and a nut which adjusts the, stops on the bolt from the opposite side against the rubber buffers and secures them against displacement'relative to the arms. '12. Ina power-driven vehicle, a frame, a vehicle wheel, a guiding element for the wheel for connecting the wheel with the frame in' such a manner-that the wheel can swing in a. vertical plane relative to the frame, pivotal means for connecting the guiding element with the frame in such a manner that it can turn about a vertical axis on the frame, elastic means for supporting the guiding element in such a. manner that it can only swing to a small extent about the ver-' tical axis and a helical spring which bears with one end against the frame and with the other end against the guiding element forresiliently sup-. porting the wheel when swinging in the vertical plane. I g 70 hicle wheel, a wheel carrier, a pivot pin moun ted vertically on the frame, elastic means which allow x the pivot pin to turn about its axis only through -a small angle against their elasticity, two fork- 75 like link members arranged one above the other,

13. In a powergdriven vehicle, a frame, a vejoints for connecting the fork ends of the link members with the pivot pin, further joints for connecting the other ends of the link members with the wheel carrier in such a manner that the link member with the wheel carrier can swing 5 in a vertical plane about the first-mentioned joints, a substantially unguided helical spring which is arranged substantially between the two link members and between the fork-like arms of the link members and which bears with one end against the frame and with the other end against one of the link members.

14. In a power driven vehicle, a frame, a vehiole wheel, an axle member for the wheel for connecting the wheel with the frame in such a manner that the wheel can move up and down independently relatively to the frame, pivotal means for connecting the axle member to the frame in such a manner that it can swing about a substantially vertical axis onfthe frame, arms mounted for turning with the axle member about said vertical axis and elastic buffers against which the arms bear for allowing said axle member to swing together with the arms only to a small extent about the vertical axis against said buffers.

15. In a ppwer driven vehicle, a frame, avebicle wheel, a wheel carrier, a pivot pin mounted on the frame so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, two links pivotal y connected one abovelthe other at one end to said pin so as to be capable of swinging in a vertical plane relatively to the frame, kpivotal means for connecting the other ends of the links to the wheel carrier so that the wheel can swing in said vertical plane relatively to the frame, a substantially unguided helical spring arranged with one end bearing against the frame and the other end bearing against one of the links and elastic means which allow the pivot pin to turn around its vertical axis through only a small angle'against the action of the elastic means.

16. In a power driven vehicle, a frame, a vee hicle wheel, a wheel carrier, a pivot pin mounted on the frame so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, two links pivotally connected one above the other atone end to said pin so as to be capable of swinging in a vertical plane relatively to=the frame, pivotal means for connecting the other; ends of the links to the wheel carrier so that the wheel can swing in'said vertical plane relatively to the frame, a spring abutment,

a ball joint connecting said spring abutment with ,unguided helical spring arranged with one end bearing against the frame'and the othervend against said spring abutment and elastic means which allow the pivot pin to turn around its vertical axis through only a small angle against the action of the elastic means.- 17. line. power'driven vehicle, a frame comprising a; longitudinalframe member and a transverse frame member connected thereto, a vehicle wheel, a wheel carrier, two link members for connecting the .wheel carrier to the frame, one of said link members hinged'at one end to the frame immediately above and. the other immediately below the longitudinal frame member at the point of connection of the transverse frame member to the longitudinal frame member, a-spring-bracket secured to the frame at the said point of connection and a spring for springing the wheel with respectto the frame and arranged to hear at one end against one of said link members and at the other end. against the spring bracket, 76 

